Projectile

A projectile is an object that is propelled by the application of an external force and then moves freely under the influence of gravity and air resistance.^[1]^[2] Although any objects in motion through space are projectiles, they are commonly found in warfare and sports (for example, a thrown baseball, kicked football, fired bullet, shot arrow, stone released from catapult).^[3]^[4]

In ballistics mathematical equations of motion are used to analyze projectile trajectories through launch, flight, and impact.

As a weapon[edit]

Delivery projectiles[edit]

Many projectiles, e.g. shells, may carry an explosive charge or another chemical or biological substance. Aside from explosive payload, a projectile can be designed to cause special damage, e.g. fire (see also early thermal weapons), or poisoning (see also arrow poison).

for guidance: (range up to 4,000 metres or 13,000 feet)

wire-guided missile

to administer an electric shock, as in the case of a (range up to 10.6 metres or 35 feet); two projectiles are shot simultaneously, each with a cable.

Taser

to make a connection with the target, either to tow it towards the launcher, as with a whaling , or to draw the launcher to the target, as a grappling hook does.

harpoon

Some projectiles stay connected by a cable to the launch equipment after launching it:

Atlatl

Ballistics

Gunpowder

Bullet

Impact depth

Kinetic bombardment

Shell (projectile)

Projectile point

Projectile use by animals

Arrow

Dart

Missile

Sling ammunition

Spear

Torpedo

Range of a projectile

Space debris

Trajectory of a projectile

Heidi Knecht (29 June 2013). . Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4899-1851-2.